Publication: Xinjiapo Hua zu xiao xue sheng yu ma hun yong ge an yan jiu = A case study of code mixing among Chinese Primary school students in Singapore
Loading...
Date
2004
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This thesis primarily presents the findings of a research investigating the widespread phenomenon of code mixing among Chinese primary school students in Singapore. Given the multilingual nature of the Singapore society, code mixing is a very natural and common linguistic phenomenon. Previous researches mainly focused on code mixing among tertiary students, adults or pre-school children. Code mixing among primary school students has yet to be explored in great depths. Hence, this qualitative study aims to provide further insight into this controversial issue as well as to draw out implications for educators.<br><br>By means of recording the natural conversations among Chinese primary school students, the data was transcribed and analyzed with regards to the salient features of the code mixing.<br><br>Code mixing is common among primary school students. The primary school students in this study come from predominantly Mandarin-speaking families and Mandarin-speaking social environments. Hence, most of the conversations are in Mandarin as the host language and English as the embedded language.<br><br>With reference to students' language competence and code mixing, we found that a main part of it is due to their limited Chinese vocabulary which can be attributed to our English-dominated education system. However, it is found that students are aware of when and where they can use "mixed-code" Mandarin.<br><br>Code mixing is closely related to the local language varieties of Singapore Mandarin and Singapore English, which have invited some subjective criticisms and value judgments by educators and politicians. It is hoped that this study would present a clearer picture of the phenomenon among primary school student in Singapore, and the influence it has on second language education.